Brian Davis Septic & Backhoe Services
Commercial and Residential Specialist
Serving Indian River, St. Lucie, Brevard & Palm Beach Counties
Office 1-
Cell:772-
Nextel Pvt. ID 162*61275*1 License and Insured
Your Home Septic System
Most homes in Florida are connected to a public sewage treatment system. However, over 1.3 million families (about 27% of Florida's housing units) live in rural and sparsely developed suburban areas not served with a public system.
Properly sited, designed, constructed, and maintained septic systems can provide an efficient and economical wastewater treatment alternative to public sewer systems.
People who have septic systems or who plan to buy property that has or will have a septic system should understand what the system does and how to use and maintain it.
WHAT DOES A SEPTIC SYSTEM DO?
Wastewater from homes is a by-
The Septic Tank
Wastewater flows through a pipe into the septic tank. Baffles or "tees" at the inlet and outlet of the tank slow the flow of water and prevent sewage from flowing directly through the tank.
Bacterial action within a septic tank helps to break down the solids in the wastewater that enter the tank. The tank must be large enough, and the rate of flow small enough, to ensure sufficient "residence time" of wastewater in the tank. Even when the tank is working properly and solids are being broken down at a rate sufficient to prevent their movement into the drain field, partially digested solids and any materials that cannot be digested sink to the bottom of the tank and accumulate as sludge. Grease, foam, and lighter particles float to the surface and form a layer of scum. The exit baffle arrangement holds back sludge and scum while allowing a partially digested wastewater to flow out of the tank.
It is important that sludge and scum not get out of the tank and into the drain field as they can clog soil pores and cause the septic system to fail. If allowed to build up in the tank, the volume available to accommodate liquid is drastically reduced. Therefore, the tank must be pumped out periodically.
Sizes of septic tanks that are required for different sizes of families and establishments
are defined in Chapter 1OD-
Residential